Firefighter - Back to the Flames

Mar 20, 2017

When Kelly Coughlin, wildland firefighter, testified in support of the Clean Energy Jobs bill (SB 557) earlier this month, she figured she’d be available for more civic action to support this bill for at least the next couple of months. Fire season wouldn’t be starting until late spring or early summer, right? Wrong.

Shortly after her March 1st testimony, Kelly received notice that she was being called back into the field on April 5th -- the earliest she’s ever been called back for fire season during her 15 year firefighting career. She was told that fire season is already off to an early, dangerous start, and that they needed her back.

If you missed it, check out Kelly’s testimony from earlier this month. Her words ring particularly poignant now as she is called back into the field for what may very well be Oregon’s longest fire season ever.